Controller.



No. 801,487. PATENTED OCT. 10, 1905. L. A. TIRRILL.

CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3. 1904.

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No. 801,487. PATENTED OCT. 10, 1905; L. A. TIRRILL.

CONTROLLER:

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3. 1904 vi 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEONARD A. TIRRILL, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GEN- ERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1905.

Application filed Julie 3, 1904. selial NO. 210,932-

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEONARD A. TIRRILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Controllers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in controllers for electric motors, and its main object is to simplify the construction and arrangement of the parts so as to produce a compact and efficient structure.

To this end it comprises certain novel features of construction. One of these consists in employing as a starting resistance a spirally-arranged conductor located on the movable member of the controller and provided with taps leading to the contact-segments which are carried on a supporting member located exteriorly of the resistance. This resistance-winding also constitutes the coil of a magnetic blow-out for the controller-contacts.

These and other features of my invention will be best understood upon reference to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the scope of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In said drawings, which illustrate a controller constructed in accordance with my invention, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section the plane of which is indicated by the broken line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on a plane indicated by the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the developed contacts of the controller and their electrical connections with an electric motor. Fig. 4: is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a modified spiral winding; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of said winding.

In these views like characters refer to like parts.

The controller illustrated is of the cylindrical type, comprising a rotatable element carrying contact-segments and a fixed element carrying cooperating contact-fingers all inclosed in a suitable casing A. This casing, which may be secured to any suitable support, as B, comprises a back 15, ends 16 17, and a cover 18. The shaft 19, which carries the movable element of the controller, is journaled in the ends 16 and 17 of the casing and carries on its exterior the spirally-arranged resistance-winding 20. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 this winding is composed of a thin strip or ribbon of steel or other suitable material wound on edge in a spiral and securely clamped between rings 21 of fiber by clamping rings or nuts 22, screwed on the exterior of the shaft. The turns of the winding 20 are insulated from each other and the shaft 19 by any suitable insulating material. Supporting members 23 23 for the contact-segment-carrying member 24 are clamped to the shaft 19at opposite ends of the winding 20 by bolts 25, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The member 24, which carries the usual contactsegments 26, is a sheet or shell of fiber or other insulating material arranged concentric with the shaft 19 and exteriorly of the winding 20. By this arrangement of the parts a very compact, eflicient. and durable structure is obtained. The usual spring contact-fingers 27, which cooperate with the segments 26 to make the various changes in circuit connections, are mounted on a supporting-block 28, rigidly connected to the controller-casing. Suit-able barriers 29, mounted on the support 29, separate the difierent pairs of contacts and constitute the usual arc-deflectors for said contacts. Taps 30 lead from certain of the segments 26 and divide the resistance-wind ing 20 into any desired number of parts, as shown in Fig. 4. The members 23 and the end 17 of the controller-casing are composed of brass or other non-magnetic material, while the shaft 19, the end 16, the back 15, and the deflector-support 29 are composed of magnetic material. From this it follows that when the winding 20 is supplied with current magnetic circuits are produced as follows: through the shaft 19, the end 16 of the easing, and then either through the back 15 and across the air-gap to the shaft 19 or back through the deflector-support 29 and the airgap to the shaft 19. This latter circuit includes the breaking-points of the contact segments and fingers of the controller and serves to blow out any arcs that may be formed between them. It will be apparent that the flux density through the latter circuit will be greater than the former, because the air-gap between the deflector-support 29 and the shaft 19 is less than the air-gap between the back 15 and said shaft.

The outer end of the shaft 19 is provided with an operating-wheel 31, which may be rotated into either forward or reverse position by the hand-rope 32. For the purpose of returning the movable member of the controller to off position when the operatingwheel 31 is left in the running position a coiled spring 33 is provided. This spring is located within the shaft 19, which is made hollow for the purpose. The opposite ends 34 35 of the spring 33 are extended laterally and are adapted to engage stops 36 37 in the heads 16 and 17, respectively, of the controller-casing. The end 34 of the spring 33 is also adapted to be engaged by a lug 38 on a collar 39, keyed to the shaft 19, and the end 35 of the spring 33 passes through a slot 40 in the shaft 19. These parts are so located that when the ends of the spring are in contact with the fixed stops 36 37 the lug 38 and the end of the slot 40 will be in bearing engagement and the controller will be in off position. Now when the operating-wheel 31 is rotated in one direction the lug 38 will carry the end 34 of the spring away from the stop 36, and thereby wind up the adjacent end of the spring 33. During this movement the end 35 of the spring will remain in contact with the stop 37, since the slot 40 is of such length as not to engage this end of the spring when the shaft 19 is rotated in this direction. On the other hand, when the operating-wheel 31 is moved in the opposite direction the end of the slot 40 by engaging the end 35 of the spring moves it from its stop and again winds up the spring. During this movement the stop 38 at the opposite end of the shaft 19 moves away from the end 34 of the spring, but the latter still remains in engagement with the fixed stop 36. Thus it will be apparent that no matter which way the operating-wheel 31 is rotated the spring 33 is always wound and always acts positively to return the controller to the off position. It will also be apparent that other forms of springs may be substituted for the coiled spring 33 without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In the diagram of Fig. 3 the contact segments and fingers which have been heretofore referred to generally by the numerals 26 and 27, respectively, are designated by said numerals with the exponents a to h in the case of the segments 26 and the exponents a to d in the case of the fingers 27. Of the segments 26 the segment 26 is divided into four parts, each of which is connected by a tap 30 to the resistance 20, so as divide the said resistance into three parts. .In this diagram T and T designate the supply-mains, 41 and 42 the armature and field-winding, respectively, of an electric motor. If the movable member of the controller is brought to the first forward position, the motor-circuit is as follows: from supply-main T to contact-finger 27 contactsegment 26, right-hand segment 26, resistance 20, left-hand segment 26 contact-finger 27 armature 41, contact-finger 27 contactsegments 26 26, contact-finger 27, fieldwinding 42 to supply lead T In moving the controller to the next forward position the circuit is the same, except that the left-hand section of the resistance 20 is cut out of circuit. Further movements of the controller in the forward direction gradually reduce the resistance in circuit until finally in the last position the resistance is all cut out of circuit. In the movement of the controller in the reverse direction from its off position the circuit traced is substantially the same as in the first forward position, except that the direction of current-flow through the armature is reversed.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many alterations and modifications in the matter herein disclosed may be made without departing from the spirit of my invent-ion, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the specific matter illustrated, but aim to cover by the terms of the appended claims all such alterations and modifications.

hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a controller, a rotatable member, an edgewise-wound resistance supported upon said rotatable member, a series of cylindrical contacts supported upon said rotatable member independently of said resistance, and electrical connections between said resistance and said contacts.

2. In a controller, a rotatable member, a thin ribbon conductor wound edgewise in the form of a helix and supported upon said mem her, a series of contacts arranged adjacent said helix and displaced from each other axially of the helix, means for supporting said contacts upon said rotatable member independently of the helix, and electrical connections between said contacts and said helix.

3. In a controller, a rotatable shaft, a resistance unit mounted thereon, a member provided with contact-pieces, means for supporting said member upon the shaft independently of the resistance unit, and electrical connections between said resistance unit and said contact-pieces.

4. A controller for an electric motor, comprising a rotatable shaft, a resistance-ribbon wound edgewise about said shaft, contact-segments carried by said shaft independently of and located exteriorly of said resistance-ribbon, cooperating contact-fingers, and connections between said ribbon and segments.

5. A controller for an electric motor, comprising a rotatable shaft, a resistance-ribbon wound edgewise about said shaft, a curved supporting member fixed to said shaft and lying exteriorly of said resistance-ribbon, contact-segments carried by said member, cooperating contact-fingers, and connections between said ribbon and segments.

IIO

6. A controller for an electric motor, comprising a rotatable member provided with cylind rical contacts, cooperating contact-fingers, a thin ribbon conductor wou'nd edgewise upon said rotatable member in a spiral having its convolutions insulated from each other and said rotatable member, and means for securing said spiral to said member independently of the securing means in said cylindrical contacts.

7. A controller for an electric motor, comprising a rotatable member provided with cylindrical contacts, cooperating contactfingers, a thin ribbon conductor wound edgewise upon said member in a spiral having its convolutions insulated from each other and said member, and rings located at the opposite ends of the spiral for clamping said spiral to said member.

8. A controller for an electric motor, comprising a rotatable shaft, a curved supportingshell fixed to said shaft, contact-segments carried by said shell, cooperating contactfingers, a thin ribbon conductor wound about said shaft in a continuous spiral having its convolutions insulated from each other and said shaft, and connections between said ribbon conductor and contact-segments on said shell.

9. A controller for an electric motor, comprising a hollow rotatable contact-carrying member, cooperating contact-fingers, a spring located within said member, an inclosing casing, and connecting means between said member, spring and easing, whereby the rotation of said member in either direction from normal will put said spring under strain so as to return said member to normal position when released.

10. A controller for an electric motor, comprising a hollow rotatable contact-carrying member, cooperating contact-fingers, a coiled spring located within said member, an inclosing casing, and connecting means between said member, spring and easing, whereby the rotation of said member in either direction from normal will wind up said spring so as to return said member to normal position when released.

11. A controller for an electric motor, comprising a hollow rotatable shaft, contact-segments carried thereby, cooperating contactfingers, a coiled spring located within said shaft having laterally-extending ends, a casing, stops on said casing for engaging the spring ends, and means on said shaft for carrying one spring end out of engagement with its stop when the shaft is rotated in one direction and for carrying the other spring end out of engagement with its stop when the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction.

12. A controller for an electric motor, comprising a rotatable shaft, a resistance-wind- 1ng located on said shaft, cooperating contacts, connections between said winding and said contacts, and a magnetic blow-out for said contacts having said winding as its energizing means.

13. A controller for an electric motor, comprising a rotatable shaft of magnetic material, a resistance and blow-out coil wound about said shaft, contact fingers and segments located exteriorly of said coil, a casing having one end composed of magnetic material, and arc-deflectors having a support of magnetic material, whereby a magnetic flux is produced at the breaking-points of said fingers and segments when said coil is supplied with current.

14:. In a controller, a rotatable member, an edgewise-wound resistance supported upon said rotatable member, a series of contacts electrically connected to said resistance and supported upon said rotatable member, and a magnetic blow-out for said contacts having said resistance for its energizing means.

15. 111 a controller, a rotatable shaft, a resistance-ribbon wound edgewise about said shaft, a curved supporting member fixed to said shaft and lying exteriorly of said resistance-ribbon, contact-segments carried by said member, cooperating contact-fingers, connections between said ribbon and said segments, and a magnetic blow-out having said resistance-ribbon for its energizing-coil.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of June, 1904.

- LEONARD A. TIRRILL.

Witnesses:

DUGALD MoK. MoKILLoP, J OHN J. l/VALKER. 

